Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Medication

  • Author: Anastasios K Konstantakos, MD; Chief Editor: Jules E Harris, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 23, 2012
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

Next

Antineoplastics

Class Summary

Chemotherapeutic agents that may be used in advanced disease include doxorubicin and cisplatin.

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex)

 

This is an antineoplastic agent of the anthracycline antibiotic class. Inhibits topoisomerase II and produces free radicals, which may cause the destruction of DNA. The combination of these 2 events can in turn inhibit the growth of neoplastic cells. In metastatic thyroid carcinoma, doxorubicin is probably the most effective antineoplastic agent.

Cisplatin (Platinol)

 

Inhibits DNA synthesis and, thus, cell proliferation by causing DNA crosslinks and denaturation of double helix.

Previous
Proceed to Follow-up
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Anastasios K Konstantakos, MD  Clinical Associate Surgeon, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Billings Clinic

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Lodovico Balducci, MD  Professor of Oncology and Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Division Chief, Senior Adult Oncology Program, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jules E Harris, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center

Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, and Central Society for Clinical Research

Disclosure: GlobeImmune Salary Consulting

Additional Contributors

Debra J Graham, MD, is gratefully acknowledged for the contributions made to this topic.

References
  1. Neff RL, Farrar WB, Kloos RT, Burman KD. Anaplastic thyroid cancer. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. Jun 2008;37(2):525-38, xi. [Medline].

  2. Smallridge RC, Marlow LA, Copland JA. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: molecular pathogenesis and emerging therapies. Endocr Relat Cancer. Mar 2009;16(1):17-44. [Medline].

  3. Wong DD, Spagnolo DV, Bisceglia M, et al. Oncocytic adrenocortical neoplasms--a clinicopathologic study of 13 new cases emphasizing the importance of their recognition. Hum Pathol. Apr 2011;42(4):489-99. [Medline].

  4. Bogsrud TV, Karantanis D, Nathan MA, Mullan BP, Wiseman GA, Kasperbauer JL, et al. 18F-FDG PET in the management of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid. Jul 2008;18(7):713-9. [Medline].

  5. Bhatia A, Rao A, Ang KK, Garden AS, Morrison WH, Rosenthal DI, et al. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: Clinical outcomes with conformal radiotherapy. Head Neck. Nov 2 2009;[Medline].

  6. Noguchi H, Yamashita H, Murakami T, Hirai K, Noguchi Y, Maruta J, et al. Successful treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with a combination of oral valproic acid, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Endocr J. Apr 2009;56(2):245-9. [Medline].

  7. Swaak-Kragten AT, de Wilt JH, Schmitz PI, Bontenbal M, Levendag PC. Multimodality treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma--treatment outcome in 75 patients. Radiother Oncol. Jul 2009;92(1):100-4. [Medline].

  8. Wiseman SM, Masoudi H, Niblock P, Turbin D, Rajput A, Hay J, et al. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: expression profile of targets for therapy offers new insights for disease treatment. Ann Surg Oncol. Feb 2007;14(2):719-29. [Medline].

  9. Chiacchio S, Lorenzoni A, Boni G, Rubello D, Elisei R, Mariani G. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: prevalence, diagnosis and treatment. Minerva Endocrinol. Dec 2008;33(4):341-57. [Medline].

  10. Kebebew E, Greenspan FS, Clark OH, et al. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Treatment outcome and prognostic factors. Cancer. Apr 1 2005;103(7):1330-5. [Medline].

  11. Kim TY, Kim KW, Jung TS, Kim JM, Kim SW, Chung KW, et al. Prognostic factors for Korean patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Head Neck. Aug 2007;29(8):765-72. [Medline].

  12. Akaishi J, Sugino K, Kitagawa W, et al. Prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 100 cases of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid. Nov 2011;21(11):1183-9. [Medline].

  13. Orita Y, Sugitani I, Amemiya T, Fujimoto Y. Prospective application of our novel prognostic index in the treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Surgery. Dec 2011;150(6):1212-9. [Medline].

  14. Ain KB. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a therapeutic challenge. Semin Surg Oncol. 1999;16:64-69. [Medline].

  15. Austin JR, el-Naggar AK, Goepfert H. Thyroid cancers. II. Medullary, anaplastic, lymphoma, sarcoma, squamous cell. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1996;29:611-27. [Medline].

  16. Goutsouliak V, Hay JH. Anaplastic thyroid cancer in British Columbia 1985-1999: a population-based study. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). Apr 2005;17(2):75-8. [Medline].

  17. Kapp DS, LiVolsi VA, Sanders MM. Anaplastic carcinoma following well-differentiated thyroid cancer: etiological considerations. Yale J Biol Med. 1982;55:521-8.

  18. Schott M, Scherbaum WA. Immunotherapy and gene therapy of thyroid cancer. Minerva Endocrinol. Dec 2004;29(4):175-87. [Medline].

  19. Udelsman R, Lakatos E, Ladenson P. Optimal surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. World J Surg. 1996;20:88-93. [Medline].

  20. Xing M. BRAF mutation in thyroid cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer. Jun 2005;12(2):245-62. [Medline].

Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.